Windproof umbrella with catch



Nov. 10, 1964 N. BIDERMAN WINDPROOF UMBRELLA WITH CATCH INVENTOR.

Filed June 27, 1965 g//// l/H //l I 0 c 1 1/ Km United States Patent M3,156,249 PROOF UMBRELLA WITH CATCH Nat Biderrnan, New York, N.Y.,assignor to Liberty Urnbrella Co., Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofNew York Filed June 27, 1963, Ser. No. 2%,010 2 Claims. (Cl. 135-20)This invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly is directed toan improved catch and release mechanism between the rod and runner of awindproof umbrella construction to facilitate returning the umbrellaframe to a normal position after being blown inside out.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve theconstruction of windproof umbrellas, which shall comprise few and simpleparts and be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall includea runner incorporating a spring biased finger pressure release catch forengaging openings in the umbrella rod in both open and closed position,which shall provide the open position opening in the rod with a guidetrack for automatic release of the runner when forced in an upwarddirection by the pressure of the wind permitting the umbrella to beturned inside out as the conventional safeguard against breaking anddistorting of the frame, which positioning of the finger pressurerelease catch shall permit springing the umbrella frame from its insideout position to its normal position with one hand, which shall be ruggedin construction, fool-proof in operation, practical and efiicient to ahigh degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter disclosed, the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which an illustrative embodiment of theinvention is shown:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an umbrella constructed toembody the invention shown in full lines in normal open position, thebroken lines indicating a wind blown inside out position of the frame.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showingdetails of the runner and rod construction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the umbrella rodshowing the upper opening construction serving as one element of theautomatic release mechanism, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 in FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, generally denotes an umbrella of thewindproof type constructed to embody the invention, the cover beingomitted from the drawing for simplicity. Umbrella 10 is seen to includea central rod 11 terminating at a lower end in handle 12 and having acrown 13 secured adjacent the upper tip 11a to which crown ribs 14 arepivotally secured. A runner 15 is slidably mounted on rod 11, havingstruts 16 pivotally secured to an upper end portion 15a thereof, eachstrut 16 being pivoted at its opposite end 16a to a midportion of one ofthe ribs 14. A helical compression spring 17 is coaxially mounted on rod11 adjacent crown 13 and may have an upper end secured to rod 11 in anysuitable manner as by inwardly bent end 17a engaging an opening 11b inrod 11 located in close proximity to crown 13, the lower end 17b ofspring 17 being free for upward compression by runner 15 when ribs 14are sprung to the upwardly flexed position shown in broken lines in FIG.1 in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

3,156,249 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 Rod 11, which may be made solid ortubular of metal or wood in any manner well known in the art, is hereshown as a tubular metal structure having a lower opening 11c and anupper opening 11d, openings 11c and 11d being positioned to be engagedby a hook or projection 13b terminating one end of catch 18 forreleasably retaining the numbrella in a closed or open position,respectively.

Runner 15 may also be made of any suitable material well known in theart, but shown in FIG. 2 as molded of a suitable resinous plastic in theform of an elongated sleeve having an axial bore 15b sized to slidablyreceive rod 11 therethrough. The upper end portion 15a of runner 15 isformed as a flange having radially extending grooves for pivotallymounting struts 16 thereto, all in the well understood manner. The lowerend of runner 15 opposite end portion 15a may be formed with astrengthening bead 15c. Extending longitudinally from bead 15c andradially from the wall of runner 15 is a boss 15d having an enlargedupper end 15e located on a midportion of runner 15 spaced below upperflange end portion 15a. A longitudinal slot 151 is formed in boss 15d tocommunicate with bore 15b and has a catch 18 pivotally mounted thereinon pin 18a, said catch 18 having one end formed with an inwardprojection 18b and an opposite end formed with a circular fingerpressure plate or button 130. A recess 15g as an extension of slot 15 isprovided in enlarged boss end 15a to receive button 15c.

A suitable spring 1? may be mounted on pivot pin 18a to normallyresiliently retain catch 18 in the position shown in FIG. 2, namely,with projection 18b extending into bore 15b and button projecting beyondthe surface of boss enlarged end 15e. As shown in FIG. 2, spring 19 hasan intermediate portion 19a extending through an opening 18d in catch 18and opposite symmetrical end portions extending on opposite sides ofcatch 18, each end portion having an open loop 1% which passes partiallyaround pin 18a and a free end 19c which engages the bottom wall ofrecess 15g.

In order to provide for the windproof feature of umbrella 10, runner 15must be free to slide from the open position shown in full lines in FIG.1 to the uppermost position indicated in broken lines, therebypermitting the ribs to bow upwardly, that is, to spring into an insideout configuration in the manner Well known in the art. To this end,upper opening 11d in rod 11 is constructed and arranged to engageprojection 18b of catch 18, retaining runner 15 against slidingdownwardly along rod 11 but to freely permit projection 18b to disengagetherefrom for said upward sliding movement of runner 15 when umbrella 10is suddenly caught by the wind. Thus as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, upperopening 11d may be drop-shaped and provided with an inclined bottom wall11a which is relatively deep at the lower edge of opening 11d andinclines upwardly to the surface of rod 11. Inclined bottom Wall 11c maybe stamped from the wall of rod 11 or otherwise formed therein. Shouldrod 11 be made of solid stock, opening 11d may then be formed as arecess having an inclined bottom wall.

The practical application and utility of the invention will now beapparent. After assembling the parts as hereinbefore described and shownin the drawing and provided with a suitable cover (not shown), umbrella10 is ready for use. In closed position with ribs 14 collapsed, runner15 will be positioned adjacent handle 12 so that projection 18b of catch18 engages in lower opening 11c locking runner 15 against slidingmovement along rod 11. Umbrella 10 is opened in the conventional mannerby holding handle 12 in one hand and with the other hand depressingbutton 18c of catch 18 to pivot the latter against the action of springl9'and disengage projection 18b from' engagement in lower opening 11c.Thereafter runner 15 is free to be moved upwardly along rod 11 to openthe umbrella. In practice, after freeing projection 18]) from loweropening 110 button 180 may be released while runner 15 is being movedupwardly along rod 11 to a short distance beyond upper opening 11d. Thenrunner 15. is brought back downwardly until projection 1812 under theaction of spring 19 engages upper opening 11d to retain umbrella It inopen position. Closing may be accomplished with one hand by restinghandle 12 against the body, depressing button 18c with one hand torelease projection 18]) from upper opening llld so that runner is freeto move downwardly to collapse ribs 14 until projection 18b againengages lower opening 110, thus locking umbrella It in the closedposition.

The improved feature of umbrella 1% will now be described. With umbrellaIt) in open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sudden relatively stronggust of wind exerting pressure on the under or inside of the umbrellawill spring ribs 14 into an inside out configuration shown in brokenlines in FIG. 1. In order to assume this inside out configuration,runner 15 must move upwardly along rod 11 against compression spring 17.The wind pressure, in exerting this upward force upon runner 15, causesprojection 18b to slide along inclined bottom wall Me which cams catch18 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 against spring 19,projection 18b thereby being guided to the surface of rod 11 for freeupward movement of runner 15, compression spring 17 serving to cushionthe movement and springing force of the ribs 14. In order .to returnumbrella It to its normal open position it is necessary to bring runnerl downwardly below upper opening 11d. This can be readily accomplishedwith one hand by simply resting handle 12 against the body, grippingrunner 15 with said one hand, depressing button 130 While simultaneouslypulling runner l5 downwardly along rod 11 until ribs 14 spring back intonormal position. Thereafter umbrella It) may be opened in the usualmanner.

It is thus seen that there is provided an improved windproof umbrellawith catch for one handed operation whereby the several objects of thisinvention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditionsof practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A windproof umbrella having a rod and a rib structure adapted tospring inside out from a normal open downwardly bowedposition to anupwardly bowed position, a runner slidably mounted on said rod foroperating and controlling said rib structure, releasable positioningmeans coacting between said runner and rod, said means including anupper and lower opening formed in the rod and a catch carried by saidrunner and spring biased to selectively engage said upper and loweropenings, finger pressure means carried by said catch for disengagingthe latter from said upper and lower openings, said upper opening andrib structure being constructed and arranged for automatic disengagementof the catch to permit the runner to slide upwardly along said rod forspringing the rib structure from said normal open downwardly bowedposition to an inside out upwardly bowed position upon exertion of windpressure on the underside of the open umbrella, said finger pressuremeans being accessible for finger manipulation to release the runner byone of the fingers of one hand while the latter is simultaneouslygripping the runner and exerting a sliding force to move the runnerdownwardly beyond said upper opening to spring the ribs from said insideout position to a normal configuration, said upper opening beingelongated along the length of said rod and having an inclined bottomwall extending from a relatively deep lower end to an upper end at thesurface of said rod, said inclined bottom wall serving as a guide foreffecting said automatic disengagement of the catch.

2. A windproof umbrella comprising a hollow tube having upper and loweropposite ends, a plurality of ribs pivoted to said tube adjacent saidupper end, a runner slidably mounted on said tube, a strut for each ofsaid ribs pivotal-ly mounted to extend from the runner to a midportionof said rib for closing the umbrella by collapsing the ribs upon slidingthe runner to a first position adjacent said tube lower end and foropening the umbrella by spreading the ribs upon sliding the runner to asecond position spaced from said tube upper end, said tube being formedwith a lower and an upper opening, said runner having a pivoted catchformed with a projection for engaging said lower and upper openings toselectively lock the runner in said closed and open positions, saidcatch being spring biased to normally urge said projection into saidopenings and having a finger pressure button positioned to pivot thecatch against the action of the spring bias to disengage the projectionfrom the openings, said upper opening, catch, ribs and struts beingconstructed and arranged for automatic disengagement of the catch fromthe upper opening to permit the runner to slide upwardly along said tubespringing the ribs from a normal downwardly bowed spread position to aninside out upwardly bowed position upon exertion of wind pressure on theunderside of the open umbrella, said finger pressure button beingaccessible for operation to render the catch inoperative by one of thefingers of one hand while the latter is simultaneously gripping therunner and exerting a sliding force to mov the runner downwardly beyondsaid upper opening to spring the ribs from said inside out position .toa normal configuration, said upper opening including an inclined bottomwall extending from a relatively deep recessed lower end to an upper endat the surface of said tube, said inclined bottom wall serving as aguide for effecting said automatic disengagement of the catch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,532 3/11Wolfe -28 2,725,888 12/55 Haupt 135-38 2,788,792 4/57 Koller l35-20HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

1. A WINDPROOF UMBRELLA HAVING A ROD AND A RIB STRUCTURE ADAPTED TOSPRING INSIDE OUT FROM A NORMAL OPEN DOWNWARDLY BOWED POSITION TO ANUPWARDLY BOWED POSITION, A RUNNER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROD FOROPERATING AND CONTROLLING SAID RIB STRUCTURE, RELEASABLE POSITIONINGMEANS COACTING BETWEEN SAID RUNNER AND ROD, SAID MEANS INCLUDING ANUPPER AND LOWER OPENING FORMED IN THE ROD AND A CATCH CARRIED BY SAIDRUNNER AND SPRING BIASED TO SELECTIVELY ENGAGE SAID UPPER AND LOWEROPENINGS, FINGER PRESSURE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CATCH FOR DISENGAGINGTHE LATTER FROM SAID UPPER AND LOWER OPENINGS, SAID UPPER OPENING ANDRIB STRUCTURE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FOR AUTOMATIC DISENGAGEMENTOF THE CATCH TO PERMIT THE RUNNER TO SLIDE UPWARDLY ALONG SAID ROD FORSPRINGING THE RIB STRUCTURE FROM SAID NORMAL OPEN DOWNWARDLY BOWEDPOSITION TO AN INSIDE OUT UPWARDLY BOWED POSITION UPON EXERTION OF WINDPRESSURE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE OPEN UMBRELLA, SAID FINGER PRESSUREMEANS BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR FINGER MANIPULATION TO RELEASE THE RUNNER BYONE OF THE FINGERS OF ONE HAND WHILE THE LATTER IS SIMULTANEOUSLYGRIPPING THE RUNNER AND EXERTING A SLIDING FORCE TO MOVE THE RUNNERDOWNWARDLY BEYOND SAID UPPER OPENING TO SPRING THE RIBS FROM SAID INSIDEOUT POSITION TO NORMAL CONFIGURATION, SAID UPPER OPENING BEING ELONGATEDALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID ROD AND HAVING AN INCLINED BOTTOM WALLEXTENDING FROM A RELATIVELY DEEP LOWER END TO AN UPPER END AT THESURFACE OF SAID ROD, SAID INCLINED BOTTOM WALL SERVING AS A GUIDE FOREFFECTING SAID AUTOMATIC DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CATCH.